Lead and mercury concentrations in the coastal waters of North and South Lebanon

Seawater samples were collected from the coastal waters 200 m from the shore of North Lebanon and South Lebanon. The 128 samples were then analysed for the presence of lead and mercury by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The lead concentrations in the north ranged from 0.11–0.66 ppm (average: 0.29 ppm) and those for mercury ranged from 1.84–12.88 ppm (average: 5.44 ppm). In the south, the range of lead concentrations was from 0.23–0.95 ppm (average: 0.71 ppm) and the range of mercury from 4.13–10.34 ppm (average: 7.31 ppm). Levels of concentrations can be directly related to density of population, industrial activity, continental runoffs and seasonal and weather changes.